A/N: This story will be told through Olivia Benson's POV unless stated otherwise at the start of a chapter

"Liv, are you absolutely positive that you want to go back to your hometown again? I know that you want Zoey and Dylan to know their father but is going back there really the best option for you?"

I let out a sigh. Elliot Stabler, my best friend of the past 14 and a half years and former partner at the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, has a pretty valid point. I left my tiny hometown in upper state New York years ago to try and escape one of the worst experiences of my entire life and I had vowed to never go back there.

"I do get what you're trying to say here, El. I just-I just feel like I would benefit from this just as much as I believe Zoey and Dylan will. It's been a long time since I left my hometown and I haven't really healed from what happened to me there all those years ago. Zoey is still being bullied at school and Dylan keeps getting into horrible fights trying to defend his sister and he's getting closer and closer to being kicked out of school. I just feel like a change of scenery might be helpful to them both as well as myself, ya know?"

Elliot nods in response to everything I've just said but I can tell that something else is bothering him. I reach out and take his hands in mine and ask him to tell me what is on his mind that is worrying him so much.

"Well, there's something that I've been wanting to tell you for a long time now but I've kinda been too afraid to because I wasn't sure how you would react especially after what you went through with Andy."

An ice-cold shiver runs down my spine at Elliot's mention of my abusive psychotic ex-boyfriend, Andy Eckerson. I'd dated Andy for nearly a full year before I saw him begin to show his true colors. He beat me severely on an almost daily basis for nearly 6 and a half months before my then 11 year old son went to Elliot about what Andy was doing to me. Andy was arrested just a few hours later and with both my statement and that of both of my children, he was put on trial and found guilty by the jury in less than 6 hours.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by Elliot gently taking his hand in mine and giving it a squeeze. I give him a small smile and ask him to tell me whatever it is that he wants to tell me. He looks nervous which is new to me. In all the years that I've known him, Elliot Stabler has never gotten nervous around me before.

"I-I love you, Liv. I've loved you for so long that I can't honestly recall a time that I didn't."

My heart feels like it's about to explode inside my chest. I've loved Elliot since the day I laid eyes on him for the first time almost 15 years ago but I never thought that he could have had shared those same feelings. I snap out of my thoughts when I realize that Elliot is still waiting for a response from me. I squeeze his hand which is still wrapped around mine.

"I love you too, El. I've loved you since the day I met you for the first time in Cragen's office. I just- I just didn't think that you'd wanna be with someone like me."

Elliot wraps his free arm around my shoulder and pulls me as close to him as possible and brushes his lips against my temple.

"How could I not be madly in love with you, Liv? You are the most amazing selfless person that I have ever known. You put everyone before yourself and you are an amazing mom to Zoey and Dylan. There is absolutely nothing that you wouldn't do for them. I could not be more proud to call you not just my best friend in the entire world but also the woman that I love with all of my heart and my soul."

I'm full on crying at this point and Elliot uses his fingers to wipe away my tears before leaning in and connecting our lips for the very first time and it's every bit as magical as I had hoped it would be. Our kiss escalates pretty quickly and we end up having a full-blown makeout session on my couch for almost 30 minutes before I start to become sleepy. El notices that I'm starting to have trouble keeping my eyes open as I sit in his lap with his strong muscular arms wrapped around me so he stands up with me still in his arms and carries me bridal style to my room where he lovingly tucks me in and presses a soft kiss to my temple and turning to leave. He makes it to the door before I call out to him.

"Yes, Livvy?"

"Would you mind staying with me tonight. Please?"

El smiles at me before making his way to the side of my bed that I'm not occupying and after removing his t-shirt, jeans, shoes and socks, lays down next to me. He reaches over and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes, breathing in his scent. I listen to the steady beating of his heart as it lulls me to sleep. The last thing I'm aware of before sleep overtakes me is Elliot kissing the top of my head and whispering to me that he loves me.

"I love you too, El." I whisper back sleepily before I finally fall asleep.